Sara Lee to reduce salt levels in products

Sara Lee has announced plans to lower the level of salt in many of its products by an average of 20 per cent over the next five years.

In a statement released in recent days, the company explained that the initiative will focus on its key categories of hot dogs, fresh bread, cooked sausage, breakfast foods and lunchmeat.

The firm noted that these new efforts will build on the successful salt reduction strategy that has already been completed in the form of a new line of lower-sodium products.

Sara Lee said that it is adopting a “step-wise approach” to salt reduction and taking factors such as consumer cost, customer acceptance and food safety into consideration as part of the plan.

Last month, the company announced that it had received a binding offer from Procter & Gamble to purchase its air care business. The firm said that it has agreed to accept the offer upon the satisfaction of certain criteria, where permissible.